Today was the last day for the conference. We reach this day with mixed emotions as it has been so fun, but we are also ready to sleep in our own beds. Today was a short day with a presentation by Martin LaTulippe, who was the captain of Canadian University team when he received a nasty injury. He spoke of how people must give yourself permission to follow your dreams and a hive them, one must follow their passion, progress should be seen and everyone needs a purpose in their life. After that the students went to do volunteer work where they went and helped collect garbage on a beautiful PEI beach with white sand, not the “regular” red sand. We met up in Charlottetown for our closing banquet where many thank-you’s were given and they revved up the crowd for CSLC 2014 in Kelowna September 23-27! My lone grade 11 student eagerly said, “Mrs. Altwasser, we need to go to that!”. I take that comment to mean that he enjoyed his time at CSLC!

We drove to Moncton, New Brunswick following the closing ceremonies to wait for our 5:45 am flight home! We should be home in time to cheer on the Riders for their home game on September 22!

Today had us listening to a guest speaker from MTV, Jessi Cruikshank. She looked like a Barbie doll, but had a powerful message of doing something for social change. She talked of going to Kenya, living with an African family who had very little, drinking goat’s blood, and learning some huge life lessons. When she asked this Kenyan woman what she would like to change in her life if she. Old, Jessi was amazed at the response, “Nothing. My life is perfect. I am with my family, they love me, they need me and I like to do what I can”. How many Canadians would answer that??? She learned that we must be happy with what life deals us. After that speaker, the organizers bussed us out to Stan Hope lighthouse for a group picture. 1000 students, 300 advisors, a gazillion school buses with a few odd cars make for a strange procession on quiet Island roads we received quite a few funny looks. After our group pose, we were taken into Charlottetown for scavenger hunt activities and lunch at UPEI, more activities at Holland College, and a meal at the Culinary Institute. I skipped the meal when I saw that the door was open at the Confederation Center. I ran up the street hoping to be able to witness with my own eyes the room, table, chairs that had been used when the documents for Confederation were signed in 1867. I was about 1 minute too late as the doors were closed and locked when I was about 10 meters from the door. 😦 I was very sad. I went back to the institute and waited for the group to finish supper. I sat and enjoyed the beautiful view of the Charlottetown Bay, so I guess I was down by the bay (where the watermelons grow, down by the bay!). Hahaha. The students enjoyed a dance at UPEI in The Wave that night to Maritime music.

September 19th started off with our regular meeting between students and advisors followed by an awesome performance by a navy band. They had the joint jumpin’ at 930 in the morning. So much energy in one room is quite amazing. General Rick Hillier, former commander of the Canadian military, talked to all in attendance about what kind of people we want to be. He believes that one must observe situations, learn from what you observe, and then apply what you have learned. After that, students and advisors split for the day to go to chosen sessions. For the students it was a evening spent with their billet families. I have heard that some were going to have bonfires on the beach, or going boating, or go enjoying some Maritime fiddling. The advisors had a “car rally” where we were given directions to follow and riddles to solve as we drove ourselves or went with others to the New Glasgow Lobster Supper place. It was good fun and we saw some incredible scenery. This province really is a beautiful jewel being cradled in the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The kaleidoscope of colors with the rolling hills against the backdrop of the ocean really is a sight that all Canadians need to witness. Awesome day!

Today was awesome! Advisors and students were treated to Phil Boyte as a speaker this morning. He reenforced that the students who are becoming leaders must embrace the idea of chocolate and nuts. Chocolate makes everything fun and yummy, but the nut in the chocolate is the good thing that we learn from the fun experience. As leaders, we must always try to deliver happiness. It is the only that we ourselves can be happy. He also had the idea that we need to ask ourselves every day: are we trying to be the best in the world or the best thing for this world? That is the thought of the day in my mind. The advisors had an extensive session with him all afternoon while the students had other sessions that they had selected to attend before the big event tonight. We travelled to Charlottetown to the Confederation Centre, (where the document that made us into a country was signed!!! I know I’m a geek but that really impresses me!!!) to watch the musical of Anne of Green Gables! I loved it! For me it ranked right up there with seeing Buckingham Palace in March! After the musical was finished with Gilbert giving Anne a kiss, I had tears running down my cheeks. It was definitely a bucket moment to have witnessed that musical in Charlottetown!

Today saw us exploring the island. We drove from Charlottetown to Borden-Carleton to view the Confederation Bridge that connects the island to New Brunswick. We didn’t cross it today, but just marveled at the structure. It is really is quite amazing! Next we have travelled up to Cavendish to visit Avonlea Village and the Anne of Green Gables house. The kids didn’t quite get my excitement with The Lake of Shining Waters, Haunted Wood, and Lovers Lane. I had to give them a quick run down of the entire story, but they still just smiled at me. We went and explored a couple different beaches. The red sand, the oysters found, and the cold waves were the main memories from the beach. We had lunch at a “Lobster Wharf” on the north shore before travelling to Montague to begin the conference. There are about 1000 students and 350 advisors at the conference which is being held in a town of about 2000. We enjoyed the opening ceremonies where all provinces were introduced in teams. After that, the kids went with their billets for the evening. All seems good tonight.

I am very fortunate to be able to travel with three student leaders from our school. We are attending the Canadian Student Leadership Conference in Montague, PEI. We left early this morning from Regina to fly to Toronto enroute to Charlottetown. We were entertained on our flight with Brant’s comments on how he wanted to sit next to the window, but he was also leery of heights. After we got our rental car and found our hotel, we went and located local YG student who is attending UPEI, Jeff Whitrow. He gave us a thorough tour of the harbour, UPEI, and local history. It was good to see him :). Tomorrow the conference starts and the students will be to stay with their billets. More then….